Rearview mirror unit



Nov. 25, 1952 c. P. FUENTES 2,619,008

REARVIEW MIRROR UNIT Filed June 11, 1951 2 SHEETS-SHEET l Gabriel P. F uen/es INVENTOR.

Y MM MW Nov. 25, 1952 G. P. FUENTES 2,619,008

REARVIEW MIRROR UNIT Filed June 11, 1951 2 SHEETSSHEET 2 Fig. 6

Gabriel P. Fuentes INVENTOR."

Patented Nov. 25, V 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE;

2,619,008 REARVIEW MIRROR UNIT Gabriel P. Fuentes, Bronx, N. Y. Application June 11, 1951, Serial No. 231,035

a 1 Claim. 1 This invention relates to new and useful improvements in mirror units of the type permitting a person to readily inspect the front and the rear of his head.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a mirror unit of this type in which the necessary plurality of mirrors may be readily adjusted with respect to each other, and in which, during adjustment, the axes of the mirrors are retained in co-planar relation. 7 7

Another important object of this invention is to provide a unit of this character that will be pleasing in appearance, and in which the mirrors as well as the support therefor will not be in a position'to interfere with such operations as dressing the hair.

Still a further important obiect of this invention is to provide a device of this character, which may be readily mounted on fiat or vertical surfaces, and which will be low in cost as well as being sturdy and eiiicient for the pur poses intended. I

A meritorious feature of the present invention resides in the means provided for permitting adjustment of the mirrors while retaining the mirrors in s ch a relation to each other that their axes are co-planar.

Yet another outstanding feature of the present invention resides in its simplicity and corresnondinq low cost of manu acture. to ther w th the fact that the construction is of such a character that the same lends itself to fabrication from a wide range of material such as plastics, metals, etc.

A final important feature of the present invention to be specifically enumerated herein resides in the supporting means for the frame of the un t, such support ng means being of such a character that the unit may be secured to a vertical wall or simply placed upon a horizontal surface.

These, together with various ancillary objects and features of the invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds, are attained by the present invention. a preferred embodiment of which has been illustrated by way of example only in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the present invention showing the same mounted upon a wall in position for use, and in which an alternative position of the supporting arms is shown in phantom lines; v

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view of the con the invention shown in Figure 6; and,

2 struction shown in Figure 1, and is taken from the plane of the line 22 in Figure 1; Figure 3 is an enlarged detail view, partially in section, of the construction shown in Figure 1, this view being taken in the direction of the arrows 3-3 in Figure 1 "and from the plane of the suporting wall;

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional detail view taken approximately upon the plane of the section line 4-4 in Figure 3; W

Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional detail'view taken upon the plane of the section line 5-5 in Figure 3;

Figure 6 is a side elevational view of another embodiment of the invention;

Figure '7 is a bottom plan view of the formo Figure 8 is an enlarged sectional detailview taken upon the plane of the. section line 8,8 in Figure 6.

Reference is now made more specifically to the accompanyin drawings, wherein like numerals designate similar parts throughout the various views, and in which attention is first directed to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures 1-5.

As clearly shown in Figures 1 and 2, the mirror unit [9 comprises an arcuate frame I2 formed of parallel members 14 connected at one end by a member 16. Obviously, the members [4 and [6 may be formed from a single length of ,material if desired.

A pair of support arms l8 are pivoted at,2.0 to the ends of the frame members It remote from the member 15, each of the arms I 8 being bent throu h an acute angle, as at 22, so that the arms l8 extendfrom the frame l2 in divergent relation to each other. As will be evident upon inspection of Figure 3, a threaded pin 25 provided with an enlarged knurled head 25 forms a pivotal-connection between each of the members I4 and arms I8, the arran ement being such that the head 26 maybe tightened to clamp the members l4 and M in adjusted an ular relation.

The arms [8 may be adjusted to extend .in the horizontal position shown in phantomlines 28 shown in Figure 1, and the outer extremities of the arms I8 are weighted by means to be explained presently so that when the arms [8 are in the position shown in phantom lines 28 in Figure 1 that the arms [8 may be rested upon a flat supporting surface to support the frame l2 in the attitude shown in Figure 1. i

The construction of the weighted extremities of the arms [8 is shown in Figures 3 and 5, wherein it will be seen that the outer extremity of the arms 3 is enlarged and formed in the shape of a hem spherical shell 30 in which is received a relatively thick hemispherical shell 32, and a circular disk 34 is also placed in the shell 30, and the disk 34 and the shell 32 are retained within the shell 30 by means of the latter having an inturned peripheral rim or flange 36. The disk 34 is provided with a keyhole slot 38 for receiving the head of a nail 40 when the arms 18 are placed in the full line position shown thereof in Figure 1, it being understood that the nail 40 is driven into a suitable supporting wall 42. Thus, it will be seen that the shell 32 serves to weight the outer extremity of the arm l8 when the latter is to be used in thehorizontal. posi.-- tion, and that the construction also affords means for attaching the arm I8 to a vertical wall.

A plurality of mirrors 44, 46, 48, and 50 are carried by means to be presently described at spaced intervals along the length of the frame 122. Inasmuch as the'means for mounting each of the mirrors to the frame I2 is identical, and sinceeach of the mirrors are themselves identical, it is believedthat-it will suflice to specifically describe only one of such mirrors and the means'for mounting the same on the frame [2. As-clearly shown in Figures 2, 3, and 4, the mirror 44 includes a casing 52 provided with diametrically opposed, oppositely extending trunnions-54z A pairv of rings B are slidably mounted on the frame members M, s ch rings 56 being provided with set screws 58 having enlarged knurled heads 60for securing. the'r ngs 56 in adjusted.positiononthe frame members l4. In addition, theringsifi-are provided with suitable openingsfiZ in which are journaled the outer end port ons'of. the trunnions 54. a clearly shown in Figure 4. The outer extremities of the trunnions 54 are outwardly flared as at 54 sothat the trunnions 54 are retained. a ainst being displaced from withintheonenings 62. and in addition, the outer extrem ties 64 of the tr nnions 54 ro ct asufficientdistance into therings 56, so that the extremities 54 bear a a nst the frame members 14 whenthe set screws 58 are tightened. It will thusbe seen that when the set screws 58 are .loosened,.the rin s 55 may be moved along the frame members. I4, and thus the mirror 44 may berotatedabout the axis of the trunnions. However. when the set screws 58 are t ghtened. the frict onal. enga ement of the outer extremities 64 of, the trunnions 54 with the frame members l4'prevent or res st rotation of the mirror 44. In operation, the person 66 utilizing the mirror unit. In positions herself as shown in Figure 1, andfithemirrors 44, 48 and 5!] are adjusted so that the rear of' thepersons h admav be seen uoon iewing m rror 44'. It will be understood that the character of the mounting means for the m rrors confines the m rrors to movements in which the axes of all'the mirrors are retained in a single plane. and that by such an arran ement the ease with which the mirrors 44. 43 and 5B are adiusted to meet a narticular'renuirement is facilitated, By properly adjust ng the mirror 46,. the person I56 may tilt her head back only to a slight, extent to View in the mirror 46 the reflection of. the front part of her, head, andv it will be obvious that. by virtue of the provision of mirror 46,.the. adjustment. of the mirrors 44, 48 and 5ll need not. be disturbed. -It will also be noted that theposition of the mirror 45 with re- -spect to the mirrors 44 and 48 is such that the 4 mirror 48 does not interfere with the passage of light between the mirrors 44 and 48.

While in the form of the invention shown in Figures 1-5 the frame 12 has been shown as being formed of tubular members [4, it will be readily appreciated that the frame members l4 may be of any desired cross-sectional configuration, the tubular form being preferred in this construction because of the high strength weight ratio of such shaped members.

Attention is now directed to the form of the invention shown in Figures 5-8, wherein it will be seen that a frame 10 is provided which is formed of a pair of arcuate bars 12 disposed in spaced parallel relation and connected together at-oneend; as at 14, so that th frame 10 may be formed from a single strip of bar stock, if desired.

In order to support the frame 10 upon a, horizontal surface, a pair of divergent support arms 'ifiis provided, the adjacent ends of which are interposed between, the bars 12. at the endiof the frame'lll opposite the connection 14. The arms I6 are pivotally secured tothebars 12 by means of aclamping screw 18, the arrangement being suchthat upon loosening the screw 18, the angular positions of the arms 16 may be adjusted with respect to the frame 10, and upon tightening the screw 18, the arms, 16 may be secured in fixed angular relationship.

I A plurality of mirrors 80, 82 and 84 are suitably mounted by means to bepresently described at spaced intervals along the frame 10. The

mounting means for the mirrors 8!], 82 and 84 permit angular adjustment of the mirrors as well as adjustment along the length of the frame 10, and such means. comprises each of the mirrors including a casing 86 formed w th a radiall pro iecting finger 8B. The fingers 88 extend between the bars or frame members 12, and are retained therein by means of bolts 94! and nuts 92 threaded upon the bolts 90, such bolts 90 extending through sets of elongated slots 94 formed in the frame members 12. as well as through a. suitable aperture in each of the fingers 88.

Additional sets of s ots 94 are provided in the frame in in the event it is desired to secure additional mirrors to the frame H3.

As will be evident, loosening of the nuts 92 on the bolts 9. permit the mirrors to be adiusted longitudinally of the slots 94 and to rotate about the axis of the bolts 90, while tightening of such nuts 52 secure the mirrors in ad usted relation.

From the fore o ng, the constr ction and operation of the device will be readily understood invention, what is claimed as new is:

In a mirror unit of the type described, the combination of apair of spaced parallel rod-like members, a pair of tubular sleeves slidable on the respective members, a mirror disposed between said members, a pair of coaxial trunnions on said mirror provided with diametrically reduced outer end portions terminating in relatively enlarged heads, said sleeves having inner side portions thereof formed with apertures and countersinks GABRIEL P. FUENTES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

Number UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Wright Dec. 25, 1900 May Aug. 6, 1907 Winzenburg Jan. 14, 1913 Gerber Nov. 1, 1921 Higbee May 18, 1926 Holcombe Mar. 7, 1933 

